Network ties of self-initiated expatriates: not all relations with host country nationals are the same

This article explores the immediate network of self-initiated expatriates and how it influences their work information and emotional support. Building on the information seeking theory and the theory of weak and strong ties, we have created a model connecting specific characteristics of the network members with the type and amount of support they provide. The multilevel dataset consisted of 165 expatriates who rated 575 of their network members on the following learned characteristics: host country knowledge, employment status, and host country origin. We have hypothesized that the three learned characteristics of the network members will be connected with the frequency of interaction with the expatriate and thus the level and type of support received from the specific tie. We expected positive correlation between host country knowledge and interaction; however empirical results did not confirm this. Consistent with the existing research in the field, we found out that differences in employment status and host country origin (as opposite to expatriate origin) are significant factors for frequency of interaction. The negative effect of higher employment status is mediated to work information and emotional support; on the other hand, negative effect of host country origin is negatively connected to emotional support only.